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After finishing runner-up in two of the past three seasons, the Sydney Swans look set to be a force again in 2017 and have been installed as a $7.50 chance to take out the AFL premiership, third in the market behind GWS and the Western Bulldogs.

It is hard to imagine a season without Sydney being a major force and we can expect the Swans to be right up there again in 2017.

John Longmire's men were right in the hunt in last year's Grand Final until the last 15 minutes of the game and have had a summer to stew on just what went wrong in the dying stages of the 2016 decider.

Josh Kennedy, who was clearly the Swans best player on that occasion, has been appointed as new captain and will once again team up with the likes of Luke Parker and Daniel Hannebery in the middle of the ground.

Parker finished 2nd in last years Brownlow with 26 votes and has been installed a $15 chance with CrownBet to secure the medal this year, while Hannebery is at the odds of $21.

The Swans won't need to make too many changes to their gameplan to feature again this year. In the decider they were unable to threaten the Bulldogs when moving the ball from halfback and relied too much on winning the ball in the middle.

Tom Mitchell's departure will hurt but the likes of Isaac Heeney and Callum Mills are ready to lift another gear, while Lance Franklin looms large once again up forward.

The superstar goal kicker is a $4.25 chance with CrownBet to claim the Coleman Medal this season and just missed out behind Eagles powerhouse, Josh Kennedy, last year.

Longmire will be hoping that Franklin's partner in crime, Kurt Tippett, can put it all together this year, while Sam Reid looks set to rejoin the 22 after missing 2016 with injury.

The Swans have a reasonably tough draw but enjoy their usual quota of games at the SCG and we can expect them to go close to matching their haul of 17 home and away wins from 2016.

Key betting odds

2017 Premiership: $7.50 CrownBet

Top 4: $2.10 CrownBet

Top 8: $1.25 CrownBet

Brownlow: Luke Parker $15

Brownlow: Daniel Hannebery $21

Coleman Medal: Lance Franklin $4.25

Prediction

Sydney look to be an absolute lock for a top 4 spot, while they are overs at the $7.50 quote for the premiership.